H&M & Acne // Haulting Angora

Depending on how often you use social media and to what extent many of you may or may not have seen videos of chinese angora fur farms, obviously the sickening videos show animals being cruely abused for their fur. Normally you'd see such a thing and then a campaign or petition being formed in an attempt to raise awareness about the situation however two major names have pulled out of Angora production. 

Firstly H&M have pulled out of their production of anything angora wool based, the brand released a statement saying "H&M will immediately stop the production of all angora products until we have secure that our strict product policy is being followed." H&M are a major name when it comes to sustainable and ethical fashion, especially with their work with the Better Cotton initiative and the creation of their conscious collection.

 

Left: H&M Angora Jumper //   Right: Acne Sweater 

Alongside H&M we also have Acne pulling their angora production as well which is great to see that both brands not only disapprove with current situation which is going on but also enough to pull production and from too very different labels. 

I think it's brilliant for both brands to show their support towards the issues raised with angora production, I think it's great they're taking a stand and are a brand that also feel this is a message that needs to be spread as well. People's views on fur are obviously very different some love it and some find the idea disgusting but why should we abuse animals just for wool? 

Surely we should be able to find a different substitute instead of abusing an animal for its fur? 

What are people's thoughts of these brands showing their stance on angora, is it spreading a positive message? 

Jack Codling // HOME IS WHERE THE HEART ISN'T

It rarely happens that I see something and stop because of how it affects me but I have to draw your eyes to this set of photographs taken by Jack Codling! The collection of images cleverly named "HOME IS WHERE THE HEART ISN'T" are visually stunning.

 

I first caught glipse of these images by someone sharing them on Facebook but looking at them I am completely in aw of how clever they are, everything here is on point. The theme, the styling and obviously colour are amazing each photo bringing me something amazingly interesting and what I'd have to refer to as a brilliant narrative. 

I love how each one is like a glimpse into a different life of very different people and also how these women just demand attention. I know this isn't probably a post I'd usually do but I wanted to be able to draw attention to the beauty and intelligence I see here! I rarely use the word inspiring and for good reason but I have to say these images are definitely inspiring, I can't describe how powerful and wonderful they are!

If you want to check out more of Jack's work you can view it // here // and also follow his work on his Facebook page // here //. I can't wait to see what else he produces and what other brilliant photographs he takes!

Fashion in Motion // Meadham Kirchhoff

As if the duo couldn't do anything more brilliant the brand are set to be the focus of free fashion shows at the V&A on the 6th December. The shows are apparently going to be a collection of their favourite pieces from different collections. 

I love Meadham and I'm definitely going to try getting tickets for it especially since it's free! I can't praise the duo enough especially after what seems to be a massively anticipated and popular second collar with Topshop. The collection seems to have massive appeal and I'm sure people have been madly waiting to get their hands on it! Although I have to admit I'm upset that there's not a mens collab similar because I'd die for that! 

 

 

I love their Topshop collab it has so many different elements to it and has so much of their personal brand of crazy. I think it's a lot more out there than the usual Topshop pieces and it'd be brilliant to use for a Photoshoot, but then I'd say that about anything Meadham Kirchhoff piece! 

V&A curator Oriole Cullen had a lot to say about the duo ahead of their V&A showcase, "Meadham  Kirchoff is known for creating a fantasy work in its collections through beautifully crafted garments and focus on fine detail." Continuning to comment saying "It's shows always contain an element of surprise and wonder, often with a hint of darkness and we are delighted to have the opportunity to bring this experience to the V&A audience." 

Well I for one am definitely excited and want tickets SO badly! I'll have to attempt to get some early Monday and so should you, I'm sure Meadham won't disappoint AT ALL. I'm so glad to see so many positivie things coming from a brand I love so much though, it's brilliant for them and I'm sure their next collection will be amazing amongst all of this fabulous news and excitement! 

All Walks // Caryn Franklin Talk

Today at uni we were lucky enough to have Caryn Franklin to come into Ravensbourne to talk to Fashion Promotion about All Walks and the work that she does with regards to All Walks and the issues they face. If you don't know about All Walks you definitely need to check out their website //here//. 

Caryn talked about the different issues in fashion, looking at how creatives can cleverly deliver a message about diversity. One point which hit home about her talk proved how important it can be  looking at the messages we can deliver, especially with regards to consumers. We need to look at the idea of children picking up imagery and how they read it; does a Miley Cyrus naked video promote a message that we want children to see as normal?

The main issue lies with how everything has become normalised, it's not strange to not have such scantily clad imagery, imagery that could be viewed and depicted as a rape scene or even imagery that highlights the idea of smart women being unpopular. Caryn delivered the message of looking for a broader range of beauty ideals and I love this I think it's a brilliant message to send out. Fashion is about diversity which is showcased in styles or colours and why don't we have this for beauty and fashion imagery?

Why are we constantly designing for thin young caucasians as if they're the only people who exist? Why do we not design clothes aimed at a much bigger range of men and women, it's definitely something that we should look at. For older women or bigger women play to their beauty and create something with them in mind highlighting them as a beautiful person in beautiful clothes unlike how fashion now see them as the wrong person for beautiful clothes. 

 

Clothes are made to be worn and not wear us. 

Caryn Franklin and All Walks spread such a massively strong and important message to all creatives, think about casting, think about difference and embrace it.  We shouldn't have models being told they're "too black" or "too fat" for a job role, not in todays modern society. 

Everyone needs to hear her message and start a change, we can't continue the way we're going and assume everything will be fine. Change has to happen from somewhere and we're the perfect people to start with change. 

Icons // Hirst X McQueen

Two of the biggest household names in the world of art and fashion, Damien Hirst and Alexander McQueen. Hirst and McQueen are set to collaborate on a set of 30 different scarves similar to the famous skull scarves McQueen is famous for. 

Celebrating 10 years of McQueen's skull scarf print which was first seen back in 2003, the collaboration is a mix of two names who've constantly played with dark themes within their collective work. 

Looking at the scarves, I think they're a brilliant collab perfectly demonstrating how two very different areas of creativity can come together to make one solid meaningful end product.  Some I prefer to others but the majority are amazing but again I count that up to taste rather than the beauty and work on the scarves. 

Here are only 10 of the 30 scarves which are set to be released on the 15th November on the McQueen website, with prices ranging from £315 to £715 they're definitely some very special. 

I'll be interested to see what the rest of the scarves look like although if this set are anything to go by I imagine they'll beautiful pieces of art which I could only dream of owning. For McQueen and Hirst I think the collaboration works perfectly and their aesthetics compliment each other so much. 

Another beautiful peice of work created with the collection comes in the form of this video shot by Sølve Sundsbø, to me it really captures the mystical element that comes from the delicate nature of the scarves. The scarves contain a massive amount of insect imagery taken from Hirst's Entomology series, having all of this imagery lined up the same way the original McQueen skull scarves are. 

I think the collection is a massively triumph for Hirst and McQueen and will hopefully be well recieved! Time will tell, but what do you think about it? 

Schiaparelli // Serving Couture

We all know about Schiaparelli's revival and if we don't why the hell not?

I know I've mentioned it and since Marco Zanini becoming creative director I've been waiting in anticipation of what he'll create and the direction of the brand. Recently massively exciting news has come to light about Schiaparelli!

Schiaparelli are set to show during Couture Fashion Week!! 

Schiaparelli with Marco Zanini have been elected as a guest member of the Cambre Syndicale, the S/S 2014 schedule is set for January 20th to January 23rd. 

What can we expect from Schiaparelli?

Will Zanini intend to continue where Lacroix left Schiaparelli or will he take the brand in a completely different direction? I can't wait to see what happens and where we end up with Schiaparelli! Sadly we're now just going to have to wait until January.

Models // Perceptions and Strength

We think of models, striking and beautiful people of a level of 'perfection' to most or a strange beauty perhaps but they're there and we all know that it's almost like another world. Obviously sending out these messages also delivers a completely misconstrued version of health and a healthy body. 

I don't really want to post about how models affect our visions of ourselves, more so about how society as a whole enforces such strict rules and guidelines of what's considered normal or beautiful especially when anything that's not to the norm is completely disregarded. Reading this Guardian post //here// by Casey Legler made me considered a real issue here, why do we feel we need to pursue anything different with such conviction?

Casey Legler being a woman cast onto Ford's male model board, I love as an idea and not even so as a gender issue I just think it really works the whole idea that she as a woman can model just as well as a guy. I think she's brilliant! It works and obviously men have done the same and modelled for women's clothing too. 

 

Rather than saying it's an issue to gender I see it as more of an identity issue, love the idea or hate it Casey Legler works perfectly for male modelling and I see that as more so a part of her identity. Another example of this is Carmen Carrera famously known from her participation on RuPaul's Drag Race who then transitioned into a woman, she walked in the Marco Marco runway show below alongside other drag professionals. 

Since this video was released online I also noticed a petition on change.org //here// called "@VictoriasSectret: Make Carmen Carrera the first trans VS model", if you watch the above video you see Carmen Carrera walking, amazingly I might add. My problem here is again people don't seem happy about it or claim it's a gender issue however IF Carmen Carrera was biologically born a woman would we be having this discussion? Probably not. 

All you need to do is take one look at both Carmen and Casey to realise they're good at what they do, forgetting gender it's irrelevent. So why the issue? Casey in her article says "There is a historical tradition you should know about and it is certainly not about gender. It is about being fierce." I mean does much more need to be said, the fashion industry should be there to break conventions and help socially. 

It should be here to educate people and promote self love and individuality, by people having a problem with either of these two people you're sending out the complete opposite message. I LOVE the look of them both, they're both fierce and definitely sources of inspiration and role models proving difference isn't a hinderance. Look at campaigns such as All Walks, promoting equality in fashion we're in the 21st century here yet still something needs to change. 

Identity. 

It's all we strive for and aim to achieve and personally fashion should see that they're there to help guide them, fashion's soul focus shouldn't lie in trends. It should be in belonging, finding yourself and helping you find others who feel the same just as you would music.

I think both of them are wonderful models and by doing what they're doing they break social norms but I respect them for promoting inner beauty and self love, something fashion could do with learning from.